A council in Essex will apply for the power to ban travellers from pitching up illegally.

Thurrock Council says it wants a borough-wide injunction to stop travellers moving onto council property including parks, playgrounds and other green spaces.

If the council's application is granted and the injunction is breached it is classed as a serious offence and could lead to a prison sentence, a fine, or assets being seized. If the application is successful, the injunction could be in place before the end of the year.

Thurrock Council is not the first council in the county to apply for such an order. One is already in place in Harlow and since being extended for a further three years in June last year, there have been just two illegal incursions. Both of these were moved on within a day.

The summer months are when travellers are known to frequently pitch up illegally. In just the past month, we have reported on several illegal incursions in Thurrock, including:

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"There is nowhere for temporary or short stay travellers to park up as far as I am aware.

"This way, maybe fly-tipping or the mess in council areas, parks, and the side of the road will decrease and be controlled - or for example, skips or free permits to use the local tip for a weekly stay will be given out.

"If we, as Council Tax payers, are paying to clean it up, and I doubt this will ever change, we need to change and start being proactive rather than reactive.

Time Line

Unauthorised caravans in Thurrock

May 22

Several caravans were spotted at the top of Parker Road, opposite Belmont Castle Academy, a primary school.

The owners of the caravans were served a 'direction to leave' on May 24, and a court summons on May 29.

A court order was then served on May 31.

May 23

The first encampment at St George's Field, Blackshots Lane, was reported to the Council.

A 'direction to leave' was handed on May 25, a court summons May 30, and Thurrock Council confirm they have left the site.

May 26

The very next day another encampment was spotted, with another 'direction to leave' notice supplied on May 30.

Both camps were on the field close to Blackshots Park behind Impulse Leisure Centre.

A court application was submitted on May 31, and a court summons will be served.

May 31

A group of caravans were parked along the back row of Aldi car park off of London Road, near to Parker Road.

The private land is owned by Aldi, who confirmed the vehicles had left Sunday, June 3.

June 3

The fifth illegal camp of caravans pitched up on an open grass area along Felipe Road in Chafford Hundred.

The small field also touches on Rainbow Road and is near to Warren Primary School.

It was reported to the Council on Sunday (June 3) and a court application will be submitted.

Residents say they are 'disgusted' by the behaviour of the travellers

Tim Oz, 50, said: "They are even going to the toilet in front of everyone, we have seen some rude things from some of the women."

Thurrock Council say they take a 'robust approach'

Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: “Thurrock Council takes a robust approach to dealing with illegal encampments and we use all of the tools available for us to deal with illegal encampment as quickly as possible."

"Just because they don’t live by what the majority see to be a conventional life style, it doesn’t make it wrong, just different. Communities make allowances for many differences."

Carlie, who works in East Tilbury, continued: "By trying to force them to live how you or I wish is not going to solve the problem of illegal encampments or the mess they leave behind.

"The cost of removing them, cleaning up, repairs over the years and in the future would probably be more than if we made a place for them in modern society.

"It’s hard enough as a Council Tax-paying resident in some places to dispose of rubbish in a responsible manner with the introduction of permits.

"But by creating a space where transit travellers can park and dispose of waste responsibly may help to contain or ease the burden on our local service in the long run.

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"Outcasting them will only prolong it and cause them to continue to affect people’s public areas.

"Their way of life will not cease, just because we make it harder for them. It will just cause them to break new laws put in place.

"We need a solution that helps them help themselves not more rules to waste tax payers money to enforce."

What happens when the council is made aware of an illegal encampment?

Two illegal camps were at Blackshots playing field in June

When caravans unlawfully pitch up on council-owned land, there are many protocols that councils have to follow to evict travellers.

This also includes housing, adult and children's services attending the site to assess the needs of those on the land. This is a statutory responsibility that council's must follow.

Employees have to contact various teams to conduct welfare and education checks and to find out if there are any vulnerable people. Following this, if a court order was needed it further delays the eviction process.

One former employee at Thurrock Council, who worked in this department for 12 years and wishes to remain anonymous, said that the summer months had the most illegal encampments.

They said it was similar to a "chess game" guessing where the caravans would go next once they were moved on.

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Thurrock Council believe it will act as a deterrent

Councillr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: "I authorised work to start the evidence gathering last year and it was the first thing I asked to be brought forward on taking on this new portfolio for anti-social behaviour in May.

"This injunction will give us even greater powers to deal with illegal traveller incursions. Breaching the injunction is a serious offence and it should act as a powerful deterrent to travellers thinking of trespassing on council land.

"We will do what we can go protect our property and green spaces for the benefit of all Thurrock residents.

"All councillors were informed of our intention to seek this injunction on 12 June.

"We already take a robust approach to dealing with illegal traveller incursions using all possible means to prevent travellers setting up unauthorised encampments in Thurrock.

"Recently we have seen success with illegal incursions being moved on in a matter of hours thanks to the close working relationship we have with Essex Police. The Local Superintendent and I discussed illegal traveller incursions at our meeting this week."

Although the council have said this will deter illegal caravans from stationing on public land, residents have said they want an injunction covering privately-owned spaces as well as more authorised traveller sites.

Matt Megran said: "I think regulated sites would encourage rules to be adhered to, rather than persons just having little or no concern for others' environment."

Susan Abbott added: "I totally agree with moving travellers on as soon as they arrive. It is a pity they can't do anything about the private land though. I feel so sorry for these landowners having to pay to clear up after the travellers have trashed their land.

"This injunction should apply to the whole of Thurrock including our car parks, parks and farmer's fields. I'm sure other places don't put up with what we have to. They get moved on then go a mile down the road to do exactly the same."

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Has this been granted before?

As many as 20 caravans were seen on a field by a school in Great Dunmow

This is not the first time an injunction has been granted by the courts to stop travellers from pitching up on council-owned and private land.

Harlow Council and Essex County Council applied for a similar order for the town in December 2015, which was granted by the High Court for 18 months.

The injunction was due to run out in June last year but the council was granted it for a further three years, protecting Harlow's spaces until 2020.

They also extended the injunction to add five named persons, totalling 40, to the order and one private piece of land that was not included in the initial order.

What are different powers people can use?

The local authority

The local authority can use Section 77 to 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, on any land within the area to remove identified individuals from the land.

Courts will only become involved when unauthorised campers do not leave when directed to do so, and repossession is enforced by local authority officers or private bailiffs.

If the unauthorised encampments return within three months their actions carries criminal sanctions.

The police

The police can use Sections 61 and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

These can be used on any land except the highway to remove concerned individuals and their vehicles, with at least two or more persons trespassing.

They do not require the involvement of the courts and police enforce the repossession of the land. If unauthorised campers return within three months it does carry criminal sanctions.

What is the Section 62A-E Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Similar to the one above, police can use this where an alternative site is available and can only be used by police officers.

The order can be used on any land to remove unauthorised encampments and does not need a court order.

For private landowners, they can either enforce the removal of illegal caravans themselves or through private baliffs. They can also, under part 55 of Civil Procedures Rules, use powers to regain the land through a court procedure where possession is enforced by county court baliffs.

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The order now bans 40 named persons from setting up an unauthorised encampments on any land in Harlow and protects 322 sites including parks, playgrounds, business areas, cycle tracks, schools, highway verges and previously occupied sites.

It also protects some private land from caravans pitching up illegally.

Harlow Council and Essex County Council joined forces after the town experienced 109 different unauthorised encampments in the span of 18 months and applied for an interim district-wide injunction in March 2015.

A group of travellers at the Brentwood Centre (June 27)

Harlow spent £40,000 cleaning up after caravans

Harlow Council confirmed: The encampments left Harlow immediately after the interim injunction was granted. The clean-up costs and court costs relating to the 109 encampments totalled over £40,000.

The injunction has significantly reduced the number and duration of unauthorised encampments in Harlow. It quickly resolves any issues on the land it covers and usually within 24 hours.

The injunction was extended for three years in June 2017 and since that extension we have had two unauthorised encampments on land covered by the injunction. Both encampments were moved on within 24 hours.

The injunction is about upholding the law, responding and listening to the concerns of residents and businesses, and protecting the town’s green open spaces and business areas. It is not – and never has been – about persecuting any particular group of people or their way of life.

Compared to the rest of Essex, Harlow has the highest number of authorised public pitches which are across two permanent traveller sites in the town. We continue to work to ensure we meet our future planning obligations and that we work with Essex County Council to ensure that their existing permanent public traveller sites are well managed and help meet future demand for pitches.

They say at the time, a catalogue of concerns were raised by residents and businesses over issues including damage to public spaces, fly tipping, human waste, antisocial behaviour and the daily disruption to people's lives caused by persistent illegal camps.

This evidence was presented at the High Court and was seen as ground-breaking, as this type of injunction, excluding named persons from an entire district, had never been applied before.

The injunction states that if it is breached, a person may be held in contempt of court and could be sent to prison, fined or have their assets seized.

The injunction prohibiting illegal encampments

Setting-up an encampment on any land within the district of Harlow unless authorised to do so by the owner of the land.

Entering and/or occupying any part of the land for residential purposes (temporary or otherwise) including the occupation of caravans/mobile homes, storage of vehicles, caravans and residential paraphernalia.

Bringing on the land or stationing on the land any caravans/mobile homes other than when driving through the district of Harlow or in compliance with the parking orders regulating the use of car parks or with express permission from the owner of the land.

The 40 names on the list are prohibited from camping anywhere without permission in the Harlow district.

One council paid out £350k to clean up mess left by caravans

Lady Justice Amanda Yip ruled in the council's favour after an application was made to stop unlawful camps being set up on 235 sites, as well as banning 100 named individuals and persons unknown from establishing unlawful sites in Redbridge.

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The local authority applied for the order and expect it to be granted in full after another hearing, due to the legal and clearance costs from enforcement, as well as the cause of concern from residents following illegal camps.

Over the past two years, the council paid £350,000 to clear up and remove 52 illegal encampments with most of the camps and costs occurring in the summer of 2017.

Some clean-up operations cost them £50,000 because of the safe disposal of asbestos that was dumped.